From the Richmond Dispatch, 8/27/1862

Volunteers from Henrico and Richmond.

To the Editors of the
Dispatch: in your issue of Saturday last “Henrico” comes to the help of
“Volunteer Private,” and still contends that Henrico and Richmond have not
furnished their quota of volunteers. His purpose was to correct “a most
egregious error into which ‘Militia’ had evidently fallen,” and the error he
points out thus: In reply to “Militia’s” enumeration of volunteers furnished, he
says: “In making up the number of 3,855 he has actually included the Tredegar
Battalion, which numbers 350 men,” &c., and ___ asks, “Now, by what right does
“Militia” included 350 men who form a home guard for city protection? &c.;” and,
again, “Why doesn’t “Militia” include the “Ellis Battalion?”

Well, “Henrico” seems to be no
better informed in the premises than “Volunteer Private.” In answer to
“Henrico’s” first question, be it remembered that the militia was ordered out by
Governor Letcher, “the Commander-in-Chief of the land and naval forces of the
State.” This order was countermanded by the same authority, upon condition that
each county and city would furnish one tenth of its white population as
volunteers. By the same authority, Henrico county and Richmond city were thrown
together in enumeration. By the same authority - to wit, by Governor Letcher -
the Tredegar Battalion was counted in the volunteers furnished by Henrico and
Richmond. It is hoped that “Henrico” now knows “by what right ‘Militia’ actually
includes the Tredegar Battalion, numbering 350 men, &c.”

The Governor allowed the
Tredegar Battalion, a body of troops organized, uniformed and equipped to be
counted as volunteers, because, on the 16th of July last, they “tendered their
services for duty in the field.” - Their services in the field were not
accepted, because they were more valuable at the foundry. The Governor did not
allow the Ellis Battalion to be counted as volunteers, because they have not
“tendered their services for duty in the field.” Surely this is a full answer to
“Henrico’s” other inquiry. As to what the Colonel of one of the city regiments
told “Henrico,” or whether Richmond or Henrico, if seperated in the count, would
be delinquent, all that does not affect [remainder of article illegible, but
seems to go on about technicalities in numbers]